A simple procedure for the chromatographic analysis of nanoliter samples

A simple method for the analysis of nanoliter droplets is proposed, which is profitable when larger samples cannot be collected as, for instance, in the case of several biological fluids and particularly in clinical chemistry. A glass capillary associated to a micromanipulator is used to collect submicroliter volumes which are partially transferred into transparent polymeric tubings with known internal diameters (120–178 μm), where the volumes sampled are measured by meniscus collimations with a collimator microscope at suitable magnification. Both ends of these tubings are preliminarily equipped with ferrules and fittings, so as to make them suitable for connection as the loop to a conventional high-pressure injection valve. The reliability of this procedure has been tested for the analysis of Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ present in minute synthetic standard samples (10–200 nL) by a conventional ion-chromatographic instrumentation. Relative standard deviations in peak area measurements (5–6%) are discussed in terms of the whole approximation affecting volume measurements, which depends on both the inconstancy of the inner diameter of the polymeric tubings employed and the uncertainty characterizing meniscus collimations. The proposed procedure can be easily extended to the determination of any organic or inorganic species present in very small samples, provided that their detection can be achieved by any chromatographic approach or, more generally, by flow injection analysis. Received: 16 June 1997 / Revised: 12 August 1997 / Accepted: 14 August 1997     

A simple procedure for the chromatographic isolation and determination of prostaglandins from human seminal plasma

Summary A relatively simple procedure for the isolation and determination of the prostaglandins present in human seminal fluid is described. It involves preliminary chromatographic purification of these compounds from the major non-prostaglandin impurities followed by their total elution in one solvent (one-step elution). The prostaglandins thus obtained were almost free from other lipids and were further resolved into prostaglandin-groups and individual prostaglandins by repeated thin-layer chromatography. Data are also presented for prostaglandin contents of fresh semen samples from five individuals and results compared with those from the stored samples.

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Einfaches Verfahren zur chromatographischen Isolierung und Bestimmung von Prostaglandinen aus menschlichem Sperma

Zusammenfassung Das Verfahren umfaßt eine chromatographische Abtrennung der Verbindungen von den hauptsächlichsten Verunreinigungen und die Gesamtelution mit einem Lösungsmittel. Die von anderen Lipiden fast völlig freien Prostaglandine werden durch wiederholte Dünnschicht-Chromatographie in Gruppen und Einzelverbindungen getrennt. Werte werden angegeben über die Prostaglandingehalte von frischem im Vergleich zu gelagertem Sperma.

     

A simple gas chromatographic method for the analysis of oxygenates in gasoline

Chromatographia - A number of oxygenated compounds such as C1?C4 alcohols, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and tertamyl methyl ether (TAME) are increasingly being used in gasoline as octane...     

Automated nanoliter solution deposition for total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis of semiconductor samples

In this study, a BioDot BioJet dispensing system was investigated as a nanoliter sample deposition method for total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis. The BioDot system was programmed to dispense arrays of 20 nL droplets of sample solution on Si wafers. Each 20 nL droplet was approximately 100 μm in diameter. A 10 × 10 array (100 droplets) was deposited and dried in less than 2 min at room temperature and pressure, demonstrating the efficiency of the automated deposition method. Solutions of various concentrations of Ni and Ni in different matrices were made from stock trace element standards to investigate of the effect of the matrix on the TXRF signal. The concentrations were such that the levels of TXRF signal saturation could be examined. Arrays were deposited to demonstrate the capability of drying 100 μL of vapor phase decomposition-like residue in the area of a typical TXRF detector.     

A fast derivatization procedure for gas chromatographic analysis of perfluorinated organic acids

A rapid and simple derivatization procedure has been developed for gas chromatographic determination of perfluorinated organic acids (PFCAs, C₆–C₁₂), using isobutyl chloroformate (IBCF) to convert the acids into the more volatile isobutyl esters, under catalysis by pyridine. The procedure was optimized in an acetonitrile medium and applied to GC techniques with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) and mass spectrometry with electron-impact ionization (GC-EI-MS); for the sake of comparison, HPLC with electrospray-ionization MS (HPLC-ESI(−)-MS) was also tested. The LOD and LOQ values obtained for these three techniques were compared, and the lowest LODs were obtained with GC-ECD (0.06–1.80 μg mL⁻¹). The procedure was further optimized in an aqueous medium, obtaining the best results in a phosphate buffer (pH 2.5, 50 mmol L⁻¹), in which the LOD and LOQ values were measured for GC-ECD a GC-EI-MS. The lowest LODs were found for GC-EI-MS (0.030–0.314 μg mL⁻¹). The practical applicability was tested on Vltava river water samples.     

Preparation of samples of plant material for chromatographic analysis

The selection, collection, and preliminary treatment of plant material samples are discussed. Stages of sample preparation and extraction techniques presently used are described, and the most recent examples of sample preparation for chromatographic analysis are reviewed. Recent applications of gas chromatography for the assessment of emission of volatile organic compounds by plants are also described.     

A simple procedure for the preparation of L-hexoses

A brief route for preparation of the L-hexenulose 4 from D-glucal 1 via furan intermediates 2 and 3 is described.     

A simple micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method for the quantitative analysis of organic expectorants

A simple and rapid micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method is described for the separation and quantification of five expectorant drugs, including ambroxol (AMB), bromhexine (BRM), carbocysteine, guaiacol and guaifenesin. The drugs were separated in a mixed solution of phosphate buffer (35 mM; pH 3.90) and acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) with sodium dodecylsulfate (120 mM) as the micellar source, and the separated drugs were directly monitored with UV detector (200 nm). Several key parameters affecting the separation and analysis of the drugs were studied and optimized. Based on the corrected peak-area ratios of the drugs to an internal standard (7-hydroxy-4-methyl-coumarin) versus the concentration of the drugs, the established method is applicable to quantify AMB and BRM each over 20-150 microM, carbocysteine over 100-1500 microM, guaiacol and guaifenesin each over 10-150 microM. The detection limits (S/N=3; 0.5 psi, 5 s injection) of the method for the analytes are in the range of 3.0-5.0 microM (except that of carbocysteine at 30 microM). The precision (relative standard deviation) and accuracy (relative error) of the method for the intra-day (n=3) and inter-day (n=5) analyses of the analytes at three levels are all below 4%. The method is speedy with a run time of about 6 min for the analysis of the five analytes. Application of this method to the analysis of AMB and BRM in pharmaceutical preparations or AMB in the urine of a dosed subject proved simple and effective.     

A simple oxidation procedure for biological material prior to analysis for mercury

The stability constants of aluminium(III), gallium(III), indium(III) and scandium(III) with 8-hydroxyquinoline and its 2-methyl derivative have been determined by potentiometric titration, with computation by the SCOGS program. In contrast to previous work, the results show that protonated species occur in several of the equilibria. The constants are discussed in terms of the nature of metal-to-ligand bonding in the complexes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the ligand coordinating atoms in the solid complexes confirms the significantly increased covalency of the gallium—oxygen bond compared to the same bond in the aluminium complex.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of low-alloy steel samples

The isolation of transition and rare earth elements from low-alloy steels by liquid chromatography (LC) with post-column reaction detection is described. The eluted metal ions are detected with a UV-visible spectrophotometric detector after post-column complexation with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol and Arsenazo-III. The requirements and characterization of the post-column reaction for the sensitive detection of metal ions after LC separation are discussed. The results are compared with those of other methods such as atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.     

A simple procedure for the quantitative microdetermination of rhamnose

Summary A simple spectrophotometric procedure for microdetermination of rhamnose is described. It is based on breakdown of the sugar with sulphuric acid followed by treatment withp-hydroxydiphenyl. The coloured product is measured spectrophotometrically at 560 nm. A linear relationship exists between the amount of rhamnose (10-0g–) and the absorbance. The method is recommended for determination of rhamnose in samples containing rhamnose, different neutral sugars, amino-sugars, sugar alcohols, uronic acids, and muramic acid.

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Zusammenfassung Ein einfaches spektralphotometrisches Verfahren zur Mikrobestimmung von Rhamnose wurde beschrieben. Es beruht auf der Spaltung des Zuckers mit Schwefelsäure und nachfolgender Behandlung mit p-Hydroxydiphenyl. Das gefärbte Reaktionsprodukt wird spektralphotometrisch bei 560 nm gemessen. Die Extinktion steht mit der Rhamnosemenge in linearer Beziehung. Das Verfahren wird für die Rhamnosebestimmung in Proben empfohlen, die verschiedene Neutralzucker, Aminozucker, Zuckeralkohole, Uronsäuren und Muramsäure enthalten.

     

A simple procedure for the preparation of chiral amides

Yeast lipase ( ) catalysed the reaction between ethyl (±)-2-chloropropionate and different aliphatic and aromatic amines yielding optically active amides.     

Development of a simple extraction procedure for chlorpyrifos determination in food samples by immunoassay

The suitability of immunoassay methodology for rapid and accurate determination of chlorpyrifos in vegetables was tested. The optimised ELISA detection limit was 0.32 ng/ml, with a working range from 0.69 to 6.21 ng/ml and an immunoassay test-mid point (IC₅₀) of 2.08 ng/ml. A rapid sample preparation procedure considering different parameters such as the amount of sample, volume of extractant, extraction time and dilution factor was optimised. The developed direct extraction (DE) and multiresidue (ME) standard procedures were performed in different fortified fresh and processed vegetable samples (tomato, bonnet pepper, bean, pea, asparagus, broccoli, watermelon, melon, lettuce, cucumber, celery and red pepper). Recoveries were in all cases in the whole range 85.2-108.9% for both DE and ME extracts. Also, the comparison of the results obtained by both immunochemical and chromatographic methods for spiked fruits and vegetables were good with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.97.